Geranium plant named ‘Pactiopi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of interspecific Geranium plant named ‘Pactiopi’, characterized by its upright and uniformly rounded plant habit; freely branching habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; and semi-double red purple-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium×hortorum×Pelargonium peltatum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘PACTIOPI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of interspecific Geranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum×Pelargonium peltatum, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Pactiopi’.

The new interspecific Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new uniform interspecific Geranium plants with attractive leaf and flower coloration.

The new interspecific Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany during the summer of 2005 of an unnamed proprietary selection of Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unnamed proprietary selection of Pelargonium peltatum, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new interspecific Geranium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Dresden, Germany during the spring of 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new interspecific Geranium plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Dresden, Germany since January, 2007, has shown that the unique features of this new interspecific Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new interspecific Geranium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Pactiopi’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Pactiopi’ as a new and distinct interspecific Geranium plant:

-   -   1. Upright and uniformly rounded plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   6. Semi-double red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new interspecific Geranium differ primarily from plants of the parent selections in plant vigor and flower color.

Plants of the new interspecific Geranium can be compared to plants of the Pelargonium×hortorum×Pelargonium tongense ‘Cante Coras’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,653. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Dresden, Germany, plants of the new interspecific Geranium differed from plants of ‘Cante Coras’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new interspecific Geranium were smaller than         plants of ‘Cante Coras’.     -   2. Plants of the new interspecific Geranium were not as vigorous         as plants of ‘Cante Coras’.     -   3. Plants of the new interspecific Geranium were more freely         branching than plants of ‘Cante Coras’.     -   4. Plants of the new interspecific Geranium had smaller leaves         than plants of ‘Cante Coras’.     -   5. Plants of the new interspecific Geranium and ‘Cante Coras’         differed in flower color as plants of ‘Cante Coras’ had coral         red-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new interspecific Geranium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new interspecific Geranium plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Pactiopi’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the winter and spring in 13-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Dresden, Germany and under conditions which closely approximate commercial interspecific Geranium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 18° C., night temperatures averaged 16° C. and light levels ranged from 15 kilolux to 100 kilolux. Plants were three months old when the photograph was taken, and plants were six months old when the description was taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum×Pelargonium peltatum     ‘Pactiopi’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Pelargonium peltatum, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 22 days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 30 days             at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 30 days             at temperatures of 18° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant/growth habit.—Upright and uniformly rounded plant             habit; densely foliated; moderately vigorous growth habit;             freely basal branching habit with about 20 lateral branches             developing per plant.         -   Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 35 cm.         -   Plant height, to top of leaves.—About 20 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 40 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 10 cm to 20 cm. Diameter:             About 5 mm. Internode length: About 2 mm to 4 mm. Texture:             Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate and opposite; simple.         -   Length.—About 4 cm.         -   Width.—About 6 cm.         -   Shape.—Reniform, rounded.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; felt-like,             rough.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 147A; venation, close to 147B. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A; venation,             close to 147B.         -   Zonation pattern.—Not discernible.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 4 cm to 8 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; rough. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Single semi-double flowers arranged in             rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils;             umbels displayed above the foliar plane on strong peduncles;             flowers mostly flat and face upright to outward depending on             the position in the umbel.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 25 umbels             develop per plant; each umbel with about eight flower buds             and open flowers.         -   Flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants begin             flowering about 70 days after planting; in the greenhouse,             plants flower year-round; in the garden in Germany,             flowering is continuous from April until frost in the             autumn.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about six to ten             days on the plant; umbels last about three to four weeks on             the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Umbel height.—About 5 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 7 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 1.5 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Roughly elliptic. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Six per flower arranged in             a single whorl; petals imbricate. Length, upper and lower             petals: About 2.5 cm. Width, upper and lower petals: About             1.4 cm. Shape: Roughly obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 67B; towards the base, close             to 155A; venation, close to 67A; color does not change with             development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 67D; towards the base, close to 155D; venation,             close to 67A.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity: If present, only one. Length: About             8 mm. Width: About 8 mm. Shape: Irregular. Apex: Rounded.             Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; crinkled. Color: When opening             and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 67B; towards the             base, close to 155A; venation, close to 67A; color does not             change with development. When opening and fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 67D; towards the base, close to             155D; venation, close to 67A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower arranged             in a single whorl. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 3 mm.             Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Slightly pubescent. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.         -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 15 cm. Diameter: About             3 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Mostly erect or outwardly             slanted. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2.5 cm.             Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength: Strong; flexible. Texture:             Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity of stamens: About             six per flower. Anther length: About 2 mm.

Anther shape: Tubular. Anther color: Close to 169A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 28A. Gynoecium: Quantity of pistils: One per flower. Pistil length: About 8 mm. Stigma shape: Five-parted. Stigma color: Close to 45A. Style length: About 3 mm. Style color: Close to 158A. Ovary color: Close to 194C. Seeds: Seed development has not been observed on plants of the new interspecific Geranium.

-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new interspecific Geranium     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to interspecific Geraniums. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new interspecific Geranium have     been observed to tolerate rain, wind and temperatures ranging from     about 1° C. to about 35° C. to 40° C. and have demonstrated good     garden performance. 

1. A new and distinct interspecific Geranium plant named ‘Pactiopi’ as illustrated and described. 